Norton AntiVirus

Hi All,
I would really like to see some exchanges dealing with Norton AntiVirus. Gosh! I've been using Norton for literally YEARS. I upgrade the software every couple of years and keep the virus updates current; frequently updating manually every day or so. As NAV has "matured", it has become an ever bigger Pain in the ____ for PCs I manage. The latest issue is the time-out error generated by Outlook and Outlook Express when trying to receive files that have attachments. The error is a time-out (I think) with the code: 0x800CCC0F. Norton's suggestion for this boils down to turning off email scanning. Now, maybe I'm wrong, but I thought email scanning was important!

I'm seriously considering some other antivirus solution and would really like some comments on some of the others. AVG comes to mind, Avast is another. McAfee seems like another bloated overload, from what I've seen. I'm not looking for a free antivirus solution; I don't mind paying for software, and actually prefer it.

This is a similar problem (In my mind at least) to the ZoneAlarm thing. In trying to be everything to everybody ZA 5 became impossible for many to use. Sygate Personal Firewall just does it's job and lets the rest of the world do its thing. I'd like a similar thing with antivirus.

Sorry for the long-winded message. I wanted to lay out the question so that the great minds on this forum to know the frustration and venture some ideas.

Re: Norton AntiVirus

Hi Bob

Soooooo.......what is the question????

My anti-virus software of choice is Avast! I've had no problems with it (been using it for over a year now), it updates automatically and frequently, it scans my email effectively, oh yes, and it is FREE.

Re: Norton AntiVirus

My history is that I used McAfee (only the AV program) long ago, and Norton AV longer ago. Because of the hated "bloat" problem, I switched to PC-Cillin 2003 just about two years ago. It's NOT free at $50 bucks but it is also not bloat and updates semi-automatically quite frequently - a popup window you have to click. I paid a re-subscription fee this year but it's still the 2003 program with a (sort of) upgraded engine. Now, the current product is getting to read like the rest of 'em and I don't know if it suffers from excess baggage (bloat) or not, what with added firewall, anti-spam control, spyware detection and the like. I guess I'll find out in about a month.

Re: Norton AntiVirus

Bob

I have had the combined Norton firewall + antivirus since Feb, and haven't had any trouble with it (or them, if you prefer!).

John

PS It is permitted to say "Happy Christmas"!

The local authority of the large urban area which is Birmingham was heavily derided a few years ago for referring to Christmas with what they thought was a Politically Correct word, <big>Winterval</big>. How we laughed!

Re: Norton AntiVirus

(my first posting, be gentle) After installing Norton Internet Security 2005, I also get that 'time out' error message. So I am no longer receiving incoming e-mail! Did not have this issue with NIS 2004. What can I do with NIS 2005 to resolve the problem? Thanks for any assistance.

Re: Norton AntiVirus

<hr>Norton's suggestion for this boils down to turning off email scanning. Now, maybe I'm wrong, but I thought email scanning was important!<hr>This kind of approach can be rather confusing. I use AVG free and reinstalled it without e-mail scanning features, because it was just too darned slow. I suspect the error you're getting is for similar reasons. The e-mail scanning feature is just fluff IMO PROVIDED you have a real-time resident scanning component always running. This will catch anything on its malicious list when it tries to execute. The e-mail scanner will find it as soon as it appears in the mailbox.

Re: Norton AntiVirus

I have several machines. Some run various iterations of Norton AV, others run AVG Free. Both scan incoming emails, neither scan outgoing as I am diligent at keeping my systems clean I see no reason to scan again sending email. I do not have problems with time outs but I must note that all spam has already been purged by the time my email hits my machine. This may be a factor to consider.

I do NOT recommend turning off incoming email scanning. That would certainly put you at risk - IMO.

Norton is very bloated and so is McAfee - in fact, I left McAfee years ago for Norton when McAfee became so bloated. BTW - I have both Norton and AVG check for updates automatically nightly - why do it manually? As subscriptions for Norton expire, I have been switching to AVG and so far am happy with the results.

I do not share your feelings with ZAP - although again, by the time my mail hits my machines, spam has been purged (I use MailWasher Pro which deletes spam off the servers before my email client polls for mail). I do not use the ZA with anti-virus either - only the firewall and again, am happy with the results.

Bill (AFE7Ret) Freedom is NOT Free!Heatis the bane of all electronics!─────────────────────

Re: Norton AntiVirus

<hr>I do NOT recommend turning off incoming email scanning. That would certainly put you at risk - IMO.<hr>I really have to ask exactly how you think there's some sort of increased risk, if realtime monitoring by the same AV application is running as I described. The only difference is that it checks the package when it arrives, rather than waiting till you try to open it.

Re: Norton AntiVirus

You actually answered the implied question. I'm just getting frustrated with NAV, and generally all utilities that try to be all things to all people. Removing NAV is a real pain also; there are a lot of manual operations one must go through to get rid of it. It doesn't fully remove itself but leave things that can interfere with other competing programs. At least I've found that to be the case...

Re: Norton AntiVirus

Yes, Al, I'd be interested in what you find out. I have a real problem with software utilities that try to be all things to all people. As I stated in my original post, if ZoneAlarm had just stayed like it was with v 4.5, I'd still be using it. It just started interfering with everything. Of course, the strong possibility exists, I guess, that NAV may have had a hand in that also!

Re: Norton AntiVirus

I've wondered about the Norton Internet Security thing. From what I've read it always seemed as though it would be too intrusive. But I know a lot of people like it; they do sell a lot of it.

Also, while I've had problems with NAV on this PC, my other two PCs have it with no trouble. This PC, however, is the primary homeoffice PC with lots of 'stuff' on it. Hence, more opportunity for crazy things to happen due to disagreements between utilities and applications of various kinds. I just like simpler programs. I went over to Sygate Personal Firewall (paid version) from ZoneAlarm Pro v5 and have been very happy with the Sygate. It just does its thing and leaves other things alone.

Re: Norton AntiVirus

I use ZoneAlarm, latest version, and like it. I have no problems at all with it, but then I've never used NAV, so that may be why. I use F-Prot and have always been very happy with it. There are a lot of sources for it, all of which license the F-Prot engine from the authors.